Men's Tennis

Men's tennis rallies past Rochester, drops fifth place match to Case

Dave Yovanoff '13 (Sportspix)

Apr 16, 2011

BEVERLY, Mass. -- The Brandeis men's tennis team rallied from a 3-0 deficit after doubles action today to defeat the University of Rochester, 5-3, in the consolation semifinals of the 2011 University Athletic Association championships. The matches were played indoors at the Bass River Tennis Club because of cold temperatures.

The Yellowjackets jumped out to the early lead by winning three close matches. Senior Dan Barbash (Old Tappan, N.J./Northern Valley Regional) and rookie John Lewis Etter (Rochester, N.Y./Gates Chili) took an 8-5 decision at No. 3 to open the scoring. Junior Matt Volkov (Betheda, Md./Walt Whitman) and senior Jeff Zink (Wilmington, Del./Brandywine) held off a furious rally for an 8-6 win at second doubles, and rookie Boris Borovcanin (Williamsville, N.Y./Nichols School) and junior Brian Rice (Syracuse, N.Y./Westhill) completed the sweep with a 9-8 win, taking the tiebreaker by a 7-4 score.

Senior Nick White (Wellesley, Mass./Wellesley) win his second match of the tournament at No. 1 singles, 6-3, 6-1, to put the Judges on the brink. The final point of the match was clinched in a tense match by sophomore Dave Yovanoff (Eden, N.Y./Eden). Yovanoff dropped the first set and was down a break in the second, before bouncing back to earn a 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 decision.

The Judges dropped a 5-2 decision to Case Western Reserve University in the fifth-place match. Yovanoff and Bernstein were 8-6 winners at first doubles, while White picked up a 7-5, 6-1 triumph at first singles.